Thursday, December 8, 2011

Just last night, I was drooling over this "Rocky Road to Kansas" quilt, made in 1930, pictured in Gwen Marston's Liberated String Quilts book.

This book is one of my absolute favorites, for the amazing collection of old string quilts shown.

Grey shot cotton

Some months ago, I made about 150 kite shaped "string" pieces with Victoria's 15 minutes play method. I was going to use them in a spider web quilt, but then changed my mind. Ah-hah! I could use them for a "Rocky Road to Kansas"quilt! I looked up instructions for the block before I went to bed last night.

This morning, I woke up to a beautiful "Rocky Road to Kansas" block on the NYC Metro Mod Quilter's blog! Hmm. Something must be in the air. THEN, Nadia at Multicolored Pieces wrote about the "rocky road ahead" in Tunisia.

OK, I got it! It's time to start this quilt!

They say, "Great minds think alike." So I'd like some help choosing the setting fabric from your great minds. Here are several auditions, none that I'm really thrilled with. Any thoughts on these or other directions would be welcome. Thank you!!

I love seeing all those options, but my favourite is the vintage turquoise, there's something about that combo that makes me want to snuggle up in it and read a book on a rainy day. The kona green makes the colours snap crackle and pop which is great too!

ok this is just so funny, I have this quilt book out on my table and wanted to make this quilt too! I have two big baskets full of scraps and started to make my own fabric and then will cut the kites from them (along with petal shapes for you know what quilt :) ) and here I wake up and your working on this quilt....I am so tempted to say the red that was gifted from mary, lucky you!!!! since we both love red, but the last one kaffe fasssets disappearing act fabric makes the fabrics pop but still has the "nifty" look to it!hmmmm I am still thinking that red would just be a fun background and that some of the kites will just blend into the fabric is not a problem to me...Kathie

Hi, LeeAnn. Thanks for mentioning my post. I wish I had illustrated it with a "Rocky Road to Kansas" but I didn't have any on hand. Anyway, if you want to emphasize the string blocks, the gray or a darker gray seems to me a possibility. Have you considered black or a black print?best, nadia

Since you're asking, I'll give my opinion too. I love that vintage turquoise! That would be great - would really give the look of some of those vintage string quilts. However, I think my 2nd choice would be the cinnamon. I think I like it best of all the "plains".Happy quilting!

I love picking fabrics! Of your choices, my faves would be the two prints - first the caramel one, then the turquoise. Then did a quick search of images, and found one with solid orange setting fabric, and solid gray sashing, that was fab! It was on barbara brackman's blog, fyi. Whatever you choose, I know it will be nifty! :)

Vintage turquoise or the last Kaffe...the gray shot cotton is nice...but then it looks Australian! (Nothing wrong with that, but it is a "look"...one I'm about to use I might add...) Whatever you pick will be fun. xo

I am going to be no help at all. I like all your choices. The blocks are wild so it is really up to you whether you want a very busy, vibrant quilt or whether you want to feature the blocks themselves. I think you are on a winner either way.

I'm with Tonya, too, and think the red Gwen has in the pic would be great! I also think maybe a chocolate brown, with a slight pattern to it, could be really beautiful against those kites. Just a thought!

As far as I see your kite-blocks, I would say definitely a solid fabric. Red would be "typically you"! Following my own stash, it would be for me a blue, either a vintage turquoise or this Amish dark but luminous blue.Each one has its favorite colors!

Hmmmm, Nifty red sounds like the popular choice to me. But then that Nifty vintage turquoise is tempting. I've used a sandstone (woven with blue & orange thread) shot cottons with scrappy quilts and love that look as well. Whatever Nifty color you decide, will be just nifty best. (did I overdo it on the word nifty?)

Translation

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About Me

I've been making quilts since 2005, and am a big fan of Gwen Marston, Anna Williams, Denyse Schmidt, the Gee's Bend gals and old string quilts--the quirkier, the better. I love new fabrics, but my favorite source is the men's shirt rack at the local thrift shop.